A/N: Thanks to a 'Bones' Fanfic that I started, I've got my muse back. Make sure you check it out, and let me know what you think. In the meantime, I hope to have more frequent postings on this one and Snowbound. Thanks for sticking with me.

WARNINGS: If you are ANYWHERE that there is a lot of snow, please call your local emergency management agency before continuing and have them issue a warning for flash flooding. Even hubby said this one was WOW! Just don't say I didn't warn you.

Chapter 36

Hannah could feel her heart fluttering in her chest as his other hand feathered its way up her back. She found it hard to believe that despite everything that had happened between them, he still wanted to be with her, to touch her, to hold her.

Her body erupted in an inferno as his lips slowly descended onto hers. Hannah might have been blind, but at that moment, she could see fireworks exploding around them as he pulled her closer.

The kiss began gently, almost imploringly, but as it progressed, it deepened, becoming more demanding. It was as if they couldn't get close enough to each other. As her hands snaked themselves around Myles' neck, he leaned into her. She could feel the heat from his workout emanating from his body through her blouse.

She heard a groan come from low in his throat and matched it with one of her own. Hannah felt lightheaded as his lips moved from hers down her neck. Intuitively, she tilted her head back, giving him better access. Her fingers inched their way from his neck to his head, clutching for dear life in his damp hair.

A whimper escaped her lips as the stubble from his cheek rubbed across her sensitive skin in the crook of his neck. Hannah had never known Myles not to shave, but he'd apparently taken that liberty while they were on this 'mini-vacation'. Just imagining how he might look had her toes curling as she urged his head up, needing to feel his lips on hers again.

"Hannah." His husky whisper sent shivers up her body. Unfortunately, it also worked like a splash of cold water as she realized how much she'd fallen.

Pushing out of his arms, Hannah backed away quickly, knocking over some boxes by the dryer. She jumped when Myles touched her arm as she struggled to stay on her feet, but she had to get away from him.

For days, she'd battled the tension that ran like a riptide through their every encounter. She'd formed excuses, given labels to, compartmentalized, and rationalized each of her feelings for him. Some women, like models and actresses, could raise the temperature of a room by simply stepping into it.

Hannah knew she didn't have that kind of incendiary appeal, and it confused her every time she ended up in his arms. How can he even think of me in the same terms as those sophisticated women he'd dated? she wondered as her trembling fingers went to her swollen lips.

Shaking her head subtly, Hannah had decided she was drawn to him by nothing more than shared circumstance. There had certainly been enough recent turmoil in their lives to weaken anyone's defenses. When her life returned to normal, and the tension wore off, so would her attraction to the tall New Englander.

She was just smitten with Myles Leland the third. No, that was a silly, teenage crush kind of word. What Hannah felt for the man was much more powerful than a mere infatuation grounded by rampaging hormones. But what was it? she wondered, as she desperately tried to think of a way out of the situation she'd gotten herself into.

Before Hannah could come up with anything, his voice interrupted her thoughts. "What's that noise?"

His voice startled her so it took a minute for her to figure out what Myles was talking about. Cocking her head to one side, Hannah listened intently thankful for the intrusion.

Starting to become accustomed to picturing the sounds she heard to identify them, it didn't take her long to find the source. "It's coming from over here," she stated, moving in the direction she indicated cautiously, her arm outstretched.

She could feel him come up behind her, but Hannah tried not to let that make her lose her focus. Feeling some boxes she started to move them out of the way, hoping whatever was making the noise was behind them.

"Rats!" Myles shouted, jerking her back towards him, out of harm's way.

"Mice," Hannah replied, shrugging free of his protective embrace. "That little bit of noise couldn't have been rats," she scoffed, pushing away his arm as she stepped forward again. "Where are they? We need to see if we can catch them or if we're going to have to set traps."

"They might bite," Myles warned. "Be careful!" he shouted when she reached forward.

"You be careful," Hannah smirked, grinning over her shoulder at his cautiousness. "Rats in Texas are the size of small dogs, so this is nothing, Mr. Agent Man. But if you don't think you can handle it, I'm sure Mom will be happy to come out and help," she teased.

"That won't be necessary," Myles snapped, sounding much more like himself again. "I just don't want you getting hurt," he explained, moving up behind her.

"Ah, is that it?" Hannah questioned, smiling broadly. "Mom would be so proud that her boy has finally learned some manners."

"I, uh,…" Myles started, before he realized she was trying to rile him and didn't rise to the bait. "Since when did you start calling her 'Mom'?" he asked, having just realized how close she'd gotten with the old woman.

"Well, I had to call her something when you decided to go AWOL on us," Hannah retorted, crossing her arms in front of her as she turned around to face him. "What did you want us to do, sit around and stare at each other until you decided to grace us with your presence? Unlike you, Myles, I was raised with some manners."

"I, um,…"

Before Myles could respond, they were interrupted by the sound of the door to the house opening. Having not remembered closing it, Hannah was glad it had after recalling what happened earlier. Taking a deep breath, she turned in that direction and waited.

"Is everything okay?" Ruth asked curiously. There was a definite pause as Hannah felt the older woman's eyes on her.

"Fine," Myles responded stiffly as Hannah nodded in agreement.

"Well," Ruth continued slowly. "Jack and Bobby are here. They said they have some news on the case."

What happened? Hannah wondered, feeling the apprehension rise inside her as she realized the implications. What do they have to tell us that they couldn't have told us over the phone like they normally update us?